Irish Women's Close: Stars collide at Lahinch

Curtis Cup stars Olivia Mehaffey and Maria Dunne are on a potential quarter-final collision course in the Irish Women’s Close at Lahinch.

All the big guns made it into the last 16 in brilliant sunshine with Mehaffey’s 8 and 7 win over Lahinch’s Linda Toomey setting up a last 16 showdown Killarney starlet Mairead Martin.

Dunne beat Roscrea’s Clodagh Jones 7 and 5 and now faces Castlewarden’s Lauren Walsh with the winner taking on Mehaffey or Martin.

Leading qualifier and Leitrim Cup winner Sinead Sexton from Lahinch carried through her form to cruise through to the Championship match play after a resounding win over fellow home member Valerie Shannon.

Junior internationals Valerie Clancy (Killarney) and Lisa O’Shea (Shannon) battled it out but Clancy came out on top to progress to a last 16 clash with Douglas’ Sara Byrne.

The Heath’s Mary Doyle was down throughout the majority of the match but made a strong finish to hold off Carlow’s Aedin Murphy.

Great play from Munster competitors Paula Walsh (Doneraile), Sara Byrne (Douglas) and Sarah Cunningham (Ennis) saw them all come out on top, as well as in form Malone golfer Louise Coffey.

Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) continues to lead the way in the bottom half of the draw as she overcame local member Olivia Lucas on the 14th, after holing out for eagle 3. Shannon Burke (Ballinrobe) managed to overcome Catriona Griffin (Killarney) on the 19th and will face Ryan tomorrow morning.